Summertime is the season of sandals. To the beach, out on the town, around the house—everyone wears them, but few of us actually take proper precautions to protect our feet. Think about all the dangers that can befall your feet when there’s no material covering them, just straps and soles—dangers like painful blisters, sun damage, tripping, slamming your toes into things and more. But, by following some simple safety tips for wearing sandals, you can avoid foot pain and enjoy your summer.

Here are some tips brought to you by experts at your local ladies shoe store in Basalt, CO:

Try them on before buying: Treat sandal and flip-flop shopping like you would any other shoe shopping expedition—always try them on. Make sure they are truly comfortable, the right size and offer adequate arch support. Sandals that are too big can make you trip and oversize flip-flops will be difficult to keep on. And, because strappy shoes are open all around, wearing too-small sandals means feet are hanging out the back, leaving your feet vulnerable to injury by things littering the ground, like rocks, gravel, glass and hot pavement.

Listen to your body: Sandals without good (or any) arch support can put strain on other parts of your body. If your arches are in pain, then it’s likely your ankles, knees, hip and lower to mid back are strained and achy, too. Also, pay attention to toe irritations. Blisters, redness and stinging between your toes due to uncomfortable straps are not normal—that pair is not right for you. Stop wearing the shoes immediately and get yourself a pair of comfortable sandals that don’t cause pain.

Don’t do yard work in them: It’s hot outside and you don’t want your feet to overheat while you do some yard work. But if you would like to have all your toes at the end of the day, resist the urge to slip on a pair of sandals to do outside chores. Without getting too graphic, image mowing the lawn with your exposed feet only inches away from the blades, or think about how things could go if your foot slipped from the shovel while digging a hole. In short, wear a shoe with full foot coverage to protect your feet from yard work related injuries.

Avoid driving in sandals: Although you may not want to believe it, flip-flops, backless sandals and open toe sandals are dangerous to drive in. These styles of sandals are notorious for slipping off drivers’ feet and getting stuck underneath or on the gas or brake pedal, which can cause accidents. If you’re a fan of wearing sandals everywhere but you must drive, keep a pair of tennis shoes in your car and change into them for driving.

Need comfortable sandals that are also fashionable and made of quality materials? If so, Midland Shoe is the place to shop—we’re your go-to men’s and ladies shoe store in Basalt, CO for quality footwear at excellent prices!